Mask blank, method for manufacturing transfer mask, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device

ABSTRACT

A light shielding film made up of a material containing one or more elements selected from silicon and tantalum and a hard mask film made up of a material containing chromium, oxygen, and carbon are laminated on a transparent substrate. The hard mask film is a single layer film having a composition gradient portion with increased oxygen content on the surface and on the neighboring region. The maximum peak for N1s in a narrow spectrum obtained via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis is the lower limit of detection or less. The portions excluding the composition gradient portion of the hard mask film have a 50 atom % or more chromium content, and the maximum peak for Cr2p in a narrow spectrum obtained via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis has a binding energy of 574 eV or less.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No.PCT/JP2018/002072 filed Jan. 24, 2018, which claims priority to JapanesePatent Application No. 2017-034706 filed Feb. 27, 2017, and the contentsof which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a mask blank, a method for manufacturing atransfer mask using the mask blank, and a method for manufacturing asemiconductor device using the transfer mask manufactured by theabove-mentioned method. In particular, this disclosure relates to a maskblank to be suitably used in an exposure apparatus using, as an exposurelight source, exposure light having a short wavelength of 200 nm orless, a method for manufacturing a transfer mask, and a method formanufacturing a semiconductor device.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, finepattern formation is carried out using photolithography. For the finepattern formation, a number of substrates called transfer masks(photomasks) are normally used. The transfer mask generally comprises atransparent glass substrate and a fine pattern formed thereon and madeof a metal thin film or the like. In manufacture of the transfer mask,photolithography is used also.

The transfer mask serves as an original plate for transferring the samefine pattern in large quantities. Therefore, dimensional accuracy of thepattern formed on the transfer mask directly affects dimensionalaccuracy of a fine pattern to be prepared using the transfer mask. Inrecent years, there is a remarkable progress in miniaturization of apattern of the semiconductor device. Correspondingly, a mask patternformed on the transfer mask is required to be miniaturized and to havehigher pattern accuracy. On the other hand, in addition to theminiaturization of the pattern on the transfer mask, there is a progressin shortening a wavelength of an exposure light source used inphotolithography. Specifically, as the exposure light source uponmanufacture of the semiconductor device, shortening of the wavelengthadvances from a KrF excimer laser (wavelength: 248 nm) to 200 nm orless, for example, an ArF excimer laser (wavelength: 193 nm).

As a type of the transfer mask, a halftone phase shift mask is known inaddition to an existing binary mask comprising a transparent substrateand a light shielding film pattern formed thereon and made of achromium-based material. In recent years, there appears a binary maskcomprising a transparent substrate and a light shielding film patternformed thereon and made of a silicon-based material or a tantalum-basedmaterial, or the like.

For the purpose of thinning a resist film formed on a surface of a maskblank, proposal has already been made of a mask blank which comprises alight shielding film and a hard mask film (may also be called an“etching mask film”) formed thereon and made of a material having etchselectivity with respect to the light shielding film. For example,Patent Document 1 proposes a mask blank which comprises a lightshielding film of a chromium-based material and an etching mask filmformed thereon and made of a silicon-based material.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT(S) Patent Document(s)

-   Patent Document 1: JP 2014-137388 A

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Problem to be Solved by the Disclosure

The above-mentioned binary mask having the transparent substrate and thelight shielding film pattern formed thereon and made of thesilicon-based material or the tantalum-based material is manufacturedusing a mask blank comprising a transparent substrate and a lightshielding film formed thereon and made of a silicon-based material or atantalum-based material. In case where the mask blank has a structure inwhich the above-mentioned hard mask film is formed on the lightshielding film, the hard mask film serves as an etching mask when apattern is formed on the light shielding film through dry etching.Therefore, it is desirable for the hard mask film to be formed by amaterial having sufficient resistance against a dry etching environmentof the light shielding film. For dry etching of the light shielding filmmade of a silicon-based material or a tantalum-based material, afluorine-based gas is normally used as an etching gas. Accordingly, asthe material of the hard mask film, it is suitable to use a materialhaving sufficient etch selectivity with respect to the light shieldingfilm, for example, a chromium-based material, for the dry etching usingthe fluorine-based gas.

In order to prepare the transfer mask (binary mask) by using the maskblank having the structure in which the light shielding film made of thesilicon-based material or the tantalum-based material and the hard maskfilm made of the chromium-based material are laminated on thetransparent substrate in this order, the following steps may beperformed. At first, through dry etching using, as a mask, a resist filmhaving a transfer pattern (the transfer pattern is a pattern to beformed on the light shielding film) and formed on a surface of the maskblank and using a mixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygen gas, atransfer pattern (hard mask film pattern) is formed on the hard maskfilm. Then, through dry etching using, as a mask, the hard mask filmwith the transfer pattern formed thereon and using the fluorine-basedgas, the transfer pattern is formed on the light shielding film.Finally, the remaining hard mask film pattern is removed. Thus, thetransfer mask having a light shielding film pattern formed on thetransparent substrate and made of a silicon-based material or atantalum-based material is completed.

In order that a fine pattern is formed with high accuracy on thetransfer mask prepared as mentioned above, it may be necessary at leastto accurately transfer the transfer pattern formed on the resist film tothe hard mask film.

As described above, through the dry etching using the resist film havingthe transfer pattern (resist pattern) as a mask and using the mixed gasof the chlorine-based gas and the oxygen gas, the transfer pattern isformed on the hard mask film of the chromium-based material. In the dryetching using the mixed gas of the chlorine-based gas and the oxygen gasas an etching gas, a tendency of anisotropic etching is small while atendency of isotropic etching is large. Generally, in case where apattern is formed on a thin film through dry etching, not only etchingin a thickness direction of the thin film but also etching in a sidewall direction of the pattern to be formed on the thin film, i.e.,so-called side etching, progresses. In order to suppress the progress ofthe side etching, it has already been practiced, upon dry etching, toapply a bias voltage on the side opposite to a main surface of thetransparent substrate that is provided with the thin film, therebycontrolling so that more etching gas is brought into contact with thefilm in the thickness direction thereof. In case of ion-based dryetching using an etching gas, such as a fluorine-based gas, having ahigh tendency to generate ionic plasma, controllability of an etchingdirection by applying the bias voltage is high and anisotropy of etchingis enhanced. Therefore, it is possible to minimize a side etching amountof the thin film to be etched. On the other hand, in case of the dryetching using the mixed gas of the chlorine-based gas and the oxygengas, the oxygen gas has a high tendency to generate radical plasma.Therefore, an effect of controlling the etching direction by applyingthe bias voltage is small and anisotropy of the etching is difficult toenhance. Accordingly, when a pattern is formed on the thin film made ofthe chromium-based material through dry etching using the mixed gas ofthe chlorine-based gas and the oxygen gas, the side etching amount tendsto increase.

When the hard mask film of the chromium-based material is patternedthrough the dry etching using, as a mask, the resist pattern made of anorganic material and using the mixed gas of the chlorine-based gas andthe oxygen gas, the resist pattern is etched from an upper side to bediminished. At this time, the resist pattern is etched also in the sidewall direction to be diminished so that the side etching amount tends toincrease.

As means for solving the problem of the side etching in the dry etchingof the thin film of the chromium-based material, it is considered tosignificantly increase, in the dry etching using the mixed gas of thechlorine-based gas and the oxygen gas, a mixing ratio of thechlorine-based gas in the mixed gas. This is because the chlorine-basedgas has a high tendency to generate ionic plasma. However, in the dryetching using the mixed gas of the chlorine-based gas and the oxygen gaswith an increased mixing ratio of the chlorine-based gas, an etchingrate of the thin film of the chromium-based material is inevitablydecreased. In order to supplement the decrease in etching rate of thethin film of the chromium-based material, it is also considered tosignificantly increase the bias voltage applied during the dry etching.In the following description, the dry etching which uses the mixed gasof the chlorine-based gas and the oxygen gas with an increased mixingratio of the chlorine-based gas and which is carried out in a statewhere a high bias voltage is applied will simply be called “dry etchingin a high-bias condition.”

By using the dry etching in the high-bias condition, it is possible toreduce, to some extent, the side etching amount generated when thetransfer pattern is formed on the thin film of the chromium-basedmaterial. Then, it is possible to form a finer transfer pattern on thethin film than before. However, when the thin film with the finertransfer pattern formed thereon is observed by a CD-SEM (CriticalDimension-Scanning Electron Microscope), it is newly found out that, incase of a pattern width of the above-mentioned thin film, LWR (LineWidth Roughness) has a value which becomes a problem. Herein, LWRrepresents a variation in pattern width caused by variation(fluctuation) of left and right line edges in a line pattern.

When the value of LWR of the transfer pattern formed on the hard maskfilm of the chromium-based material with the resist pattern used as amask is large, the pattern accuracy of the light shielding film isdecreased when the transfer pattern is formed on the light shieldingfilm using, as a mask, the hard mask film provided with the transferpattern. This affects the accuracy of a device pattern in asemiconductor device manufactured by using the transfer mask and maypossibly lead to a serious defect. However, if it is possible to furtherreduce the side etching amount generated in the dry etching in thehigh-bias condition when the fine transfer pattern is formed on the hardmask film, it is possible to reduce LWR of the fine transfer patternformed on the hard mask film through the dry etching.

This disclosure has been made in order to solve the above-mentionedexisting problems. A first aspect of this disclosure is to provide amask blank which has a structure such that a light shielding film madeof a silicon-based material or a tantalum-based material and a hard maskfilm made of a chromium-based material are laminated on a transparentsubstrate in this order, and which is capable of reducing a side etchingamount generated on a pattern side wall of the hard mask film andreducing LWR even in case where the hard mask film is patterned throughdry etching in a high-bias condition using, as a mask, a resist filmhaving a pattern to be formed on a light shielding film and using amixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygen gas, thereby accuratelyforming a fine transfer pattern on the hard mask film. Furthermore, anaspect of this disclosure is to provide the mask blank capable ofaccurately forming a fine pattern also on the light shielding film bypatterning the light shielding film using, as a mask, the hard mask filmprovided with the transfer pattern.

A second aspect of this disclosure is to provide a method formanufacturing a transfer mask provided with a high-accuracy finetransfer pattern by using the mask blank.

A third aspect of this disclosure is to provide a method formanufacturing a semiconductor device capable of carrying out, by usingthe transfer mask, high-accuracy pattern transfer onto a resist film ona semiconductor substrate.

Means to Solve the Problem

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventorsfocused particularly on analyzing a depth direction chemical bondingstate of the thin film and continued an intensive study to complete thisdisclosure. Specifically, in order to solve the above-mentionedproblems, this disclosure has the following configurations.

(Configuration 1)

A mask blank having a structure in which a light shielding film and ahard mask film are laminated on a transparent substrate in this order,wherein the light shielding film is made of a material containing one ormore elements selected from silicon and tantalum; the hard mask film isa single layer film having a composition gradient portion formed on asurface of the hard mask film that faces away from the light shieldingfilm and a region adjacent thereto, the hard mask film is made of amaterial containing chromium, oxygen, and carbon;

a part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradient portionhas a chromium content of 50 atomic % or more, the hard mask film has amaximum peak of N1s narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, which is not higher than a lower detectionlimit, and the part of the hard mask film excluding the compositiongradient portion has a maximum peak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained byanalysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 574eV or less.

(Configuration 2)

The mask blank according to configuration 1, wherein a ratio of a carboncontent [atomic %] divided by a total content [atomic %] of chromium,carbon, and oxygen in the part of the hard mask film excluding thecomposition gradient portion is 0.1 or more.

(Configuration 3)

The mask blank according to configuration 1 or 2, wherein thecomposition gradient portion of the hard mask film has a maximum peak ofCr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy, at a binding energy of 576 eV or more.

(Configuration 4)

The mask blank according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, whereinthe hard mask film has a maximum peak of Si2p narrow spectrum, obtainedby analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which is not higherthan a lower detection limit.

(Configuration 5)

The mask blank according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, whereinthe part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion has a chromium content of 80 atomic % or less.

(Configuration 6)

The mask blank according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, whereinthe part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion has a carbon content of 10 atomic % or more and 20 atomic % orless.

(Configuration 7)

The mask blank according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, whereinthe part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion has an oxygen content of 10 atomic % or more and 35 atomic % orless.

(Configuration 8)

The mask blank according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, whereinthe part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion has a difference in content of each constituent element in athickness direction that is less than 10 atomic %.

(Configuration 9)

The mask blank according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, whereinthe light shielding film has an optical density not smaller than 2.8with respect to exposure light of an ArF excimer laser (having awavelength of 193 nm).

(Configuration 10)

The mask blank according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, whereinthe light shielding film has a thickness of 60 nm or less.

(Configuration 11)

The mask blank according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, whereinthe hard mask film has a thickness of 15 nm or less.

(Configuration 12)

A method for manufacturing a transfer mask using the mask blankaccording to any one of configurations 1 to 11, comprising the step offorming a transfer pattern on the hard mask film through dry etchingusing, as a mask, a resist film having a transfer pattern and using amixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygen gas; and the step offorming a transfer pattern on the light shielding film through dryetching using, as a mask, the hard mask film provided with the transferpattern and using a fluorine-based gas.

(Configuration 13)

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the stepof exposure-transferring a transfer pattern onto a resist film on asemiconductor substrate by using a transfer mask manufactured by themethod for manufacturing a transfer mask according to configuration 12.

Effect of the Disclosure

According to the mask blank of this disclosure having theabove-mentioned configurations, the mask blank has a structure in whicha light shielding film made of a silicon-based material or atantalum-based material and a hard mask film made of a chromium-basedmaterial are laminated on a transparent substrate in this order. Withthe mask blank, even if the hard mask film is patterned through dryetching in a high-bias condition using, as a mask, a resist film havinga pattern to be formed on the light shielding film and using a mixed gasof a chlorine-based gas and an oxygen gas, it is possible to reduce aside etching amount generated on a pattern side wall of the hard maskfilm and to reduce LWR also. Thus, it is possible to accurately form afine transfer pattern on the hard mask film. Furthermore, by patterningthe light shielding film using, as a mask, the hard mask film providedwith the transfer pattern, it is possible to accurately form a finepattern on the light shielding film also. In addition, by using the maskblank, it is possible to manufacture a transfer mask provided with ahigh-accuracy fine transfer pattern. Furthermore, by carrying outpattern transfer on a resist film of a semiconductor substrate using thetransfer mask, it is possible to manufacture a high-qualitysemiconductor device provided with a device pattern excellent in patternaccuracy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a mask blank according to oneembodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a mask blank according toanother embodiment of this disclosure;

FIGS. 3A-3E are schematic sectional views for illustrating amanufacturing process of a transfer mask using the mask blank accordingto this disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a view for illustrating a Cr2p narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing a hard mask film of a mask blank of Example 1 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 5 is a view for illustrating an O1s narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Example 1 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 6 is a view for illustrating an N1s narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Example 1 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 7 is a view for illustrating a C1s narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Example 1 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 8 is a view for illustrating an Si2p narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Example 1 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 9 is a view for illustrating a Cr2p narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing a hard mask film of a mask blank of Example 2 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 10 is a view for illustrating an O1s narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Example 2 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 11 is a view for illustrating an N1s narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Example 2 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 12 is a view for illustrating a C1s narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Example 2 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 13 is a view for illustrating an Si2p narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Example 2 of thisdisclosure by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 14 is a view for illustrating a Cr2p narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing a hard mask film of a mask blank of Comparative Example byX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 15 is a view for illustrating an O1s narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Comparative Example byX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 16 is a view for illustrating an N1s narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Comparative Example byX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

FIG. 17 is a view for illustrating a C1s narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Comparative Example byX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); and

FIG. 18 is a view for illustrating an Si2p narrow spectrum obtained byanalyzing the hard mask film of the mask blank of Comparative Example byX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);

MODE FOR EMBODYING THE DISCLOSURE

Hereinafter, embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings.

At first, a history how to reach this disclosure will be described.

In dry etching in a high-bias condition for a chromium-based materialfilm, an etching rate of etching in a film thickness direction canconsiderably be increased as compared with dry etching at a normal biasvoltage using the same condition of etching gas (hereinafter will becalled “dry etching in a normal condition”). Generally, upon dry etchingof a thin film, both dry etching by a chemical reaction and dry etchingby a physical action are carried out. The dry etching by the chemicalreaction is carried out in a process that an etching gas in a plasmastate is brought into contact with a surface of the thin film and isbonded to metal elements in the thin film to generate alow-boiling-point compound to be sublimated. On the other hand, the dryetching by the physical action is carried out in a process that ionicplasma in an etching gas accelerated by a bias voltage collides with asurface of a thin film to physically eject respective elements,including metal elements, on the surface of the thin film, to generate alow-boiling-point compound with the metal elements that is sublimated.

In the dry etching in the high-bias condition, the dry etching by thephysical action is enhanced as compared with the dry etching in thenormal condition. The dry etching by the physical action significantlycontributes to etching in the film thickness direction but does not muchcontribute to etching in a side wall direction of a pattern. On theother hand, the dry etching by the chemical reaction contributes to boththe etching in the film thickness direction and the etching in the sidewall direction of the pattern. Therefore, in order to reduce a sideetching amount than before, it may be desirable to reduce easiness ofbeing dry-etched by the chemical reaction in the chromium-based materialfilm than before and to maintain easiness of being dry-etched by thephysical action to a same level as before.

In order to reduce the etching amount according to the dry etching bythe chemical reaction in the chromium-based material film, for example,it is proposed to increase a chromium content in the chromium-basedmaterial film. However, if the chromium content in the chromium-basedmaterial film is too large, the etching amount by the physical actionbecomes significantly small and the etching rate of the chromium-basedmaterial film is significantly decreased. When the etching rate of thechromium-based material film is significantly decreased, an etching timebecomes considerably long when the chromium-based material film ispatterned, and a side wall of the pattern is exposed to the etching gasfor a longer time duration. This leads to an increase of the sideetching amount. Therefore, the technique of simply increasing thechromium content in the chromium-based material film significantlydecreases the etching rate of the film and is not relevant tosuppression of the side etching amount.

In view of the above, the present inventors studied about constituentelements in the chromium-based material film other than chromium. Inorder to suppress the side etching amount, it is effective to containlight elements which consume oxygen radicals promoting the dry etchingby the chemical reaction. It may be desirable for a material forming ahard mask film in this disclosure to have at least chemical resistanceduring cleaning. Therefore, the light elements which can be contained ina predetermined amount or more in a chromium-based material forming thehard mask film are limited. The light elements which can be contained ina predetermined amount or more in the chromium-based material includeoxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and so on.

For example, by making oxygen be contained in the chromium-basedmaterial forming the hard mask film in this disclosure, the etching rateis considerably increased in both the dry etching in the high-biascondition and the dry etching in the normal condition. Simultaneously,side etching tends to easily progress. However, taking into account thatthe hard mask film generally has a thickness of 15 nm or less and thatthe etching time in the film thickness direction is significantlyshortened, it may be required for oxygen to be contained in thechromium-based material forming the hard mask film in case of the dryetching in the high-bias condition.

When the chromium-based material forming the hard mask film containsnitrogen, the etching rate is increased in both the dry etching in thehigh-bias condition and the dry etching in the normal condition,although not so remarkable as compared with the case of containingoxygen. Simultaneously, however, the side etching tends to easilyprogress. When the chromium-based material contains nitrogen, theeasiness in progress of the side etching is increased as compared withthe degree of shortening the etching time in the film thicknessdirection. Taking the above into account, it is desired that, in case ofthe dry etching in the high-bias condition, the chromium-based materialforming the hard mask film does not contain nitrogen.

In case of the dry etching in the normal condition, when thechromium-based material contains carbon, the etching rate is slightlydecreased as compared with the case of a hard mask film consisting ofchromium only. However, if the chromium-based material contains carbon,resistance against the dry etching by the physical action is lowered ascompared with the case of the hard mask film consisting of chromiumonly. Therefore, in case of the dry etching in the high-bias conditionhaving a great tendency of the dry etching by the physical action, ifthe chromium-based material contains carbon, the etching rate isincreased as compared with the case of the hard mask film consisting ofchromium only. When the chromium-based material contains carbon, theoxygen radicals promoting the side etching are consumed. Therefore, ascompared with the case where oxygen or nitrogen is contained, the sideetching is difficult to progress. Taking the above into account, in caseof the dry etching in the high-bias condition, it may be required forcarbon to be contained in the chromium-based material forming the hardmask film.

The above-mentioned significant difference arises between the case wherenitrogen is contained in the chromium-based material and the case wherecarbon is contained in the chromium-based material. This results from adifference between Cr—N bond and Cr—C bond. Cr—N bond has a low bindingenergy and dissociation of the bond tends to easily occur. Therefore, ifchlorine and oxygen in a plasma state are brought into contact, Cr—Nbond is easily dissociated to form chromyl chloride having a low boilingpoint. On the other hand, Cr—C bond has a high binding energy anddissociation of the bond is difficult to occur. Therefore, even ifchlorine and oxygen in a plasma state are brought into contact, Cr—Cbond is difficult to be dissociated to form chromyl chloride having alow boiling point.

As described above, the etching in the high-bias condition has a greattendency of the dry etching by the physical action. In the dry etchingby the physical action, the elements in the thin film are ejected by ionbombardment to cause a state where the bond between the elements isbroken. Therefore, a difference in easiness of formation of chromylchloride resulting from a difference in level of the binding energybetween the elements is small as compared with the case of the dryetching by the chemical reaction. As described above, the dry etching bythe physical action significantly contributes to the etching in the filmthickness direction but does not much contribute to the etching in theside wall direction of the pattern. Therefore, in the dry etching in thehigh-bias condition in the film thickness direction of the hard maskfilm made of the chromium-based material, a difference in degree ofprogress of the etching is small between Cr—N bond and Cr—C bond.

In comparison, in the side etching advancing in the side wall directionof the pattern, the tendency of the dry etching by the chemical reactionis high. Therefore, if an abundance ratio of Cr—N bond in thechromium-based material forming the hard mask film is high, the sideetching tends to easily progress. On the other hand, if an abundanceratio of Cr—C bond in the chromium-based material forming the hard maskfilm is high, the side etching is difficult to progress.

The present inventors comprehensively considered the above matters andfurther focused on analyzing a chemical bonding state in the depthdirection of the thin film. As a result, it is concluded that, in orderto solve the above-mentioned problems, the hard mask film patterned bythe dry etching in the high-bias condition using, as a mask, the resistfilm having a pattern to be formed on the light shielding film isdesired to have a following structure. The hard mask film is a singlelayer film having a composition gradient portion increased in oxygencontent and formed on a surface of the hard mask film that faces awayfrom the light shielding film and in a region adjacent thereto. The hardmask film is made of a material containing chromium, oxygen, and carbon.A part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradient portionhas a chromium content of 50 atomic % or more. The hard mask film has amaximum peak of N1s narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, which is not higher than a lower detectionlimit. The part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion has a maximum peak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysisof X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 574 eV orless. Thus, this disclosure has been completed.

Now, this disclosure will be described in detail on the basis ofembodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view for illustrating a mask blankaccording to one embodiment of this disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mask blank 10 according to the oneembodiment of this disclosure has a structure in which a light shieldingfilm 2 and a hard mask film 3 are laminated on a transparent substrate 1in this order.

Herein, the transparent substrate 1 in the mask blank 10 is notparticularly limited as far as the substrate is for use in a transfermask for manufacture of a semiconductor device. The transparentsubstrate is not particularly limited as far as the substrate istransparent with respect to an exposure wavelength used in exposuretransfer of a pattern onto a semiconductor substrate during manufactureof the semiconductor device. A synthetic quartz substrate and othervarious types of glass substrates (for example, soda lime glass,aluminosilicate glass, and so on) may be used. Among others, thesynthetic quartz substrate is particularly preferably used because it ishighly transparent to an ArF excimer laser (wavelength: 193 nm)effective in fine pattern formation or in a region of a shorterwavelength.

It may be desirable for the hard mask film 3 to be a material havinghigh etch selectivity with respect to the light shielding film 2directly thereunder. In this disclosure, by selecting a chromium-basedmaterial as a material of the hard mask film 3, it is possible to securehigh etch selectivity with respect to the light shielding film 2 made ofa silicon-based material or a tantalum-based material. Therefore, it ispossible not only to thin a resist film to be formed on a surface of themask blank 10 but also to reduce the thickness of the hard mask film 3.In this disclosure, since the hard mask film 3 has the above-mentionedstructure, it is possible to accurately transfer, onto the hard maskfilm 3, a fine transfer pattern of the resist film formed on the surfaceof the mask blank 10.

Next, the structure of the hard mask film 3 in this disclosure will bedescribed further in detail. The hard mask film 3 is made of a materialcontaining chromium (Cr), oxygen (O), and carbon (C). The hard mask film3 is a single layer film having a composition gradient portion increasedin oxygen content and formed on a surface of the hard mask film 3 thatfaces away from the light shielding film 2 and in a region adjacentthereto.

When the completed mask blank 10 is placed in an atmosphere containingoxygen, for example, in the air, a region where the oxygen content isincreased as compared with the other part is formed on the surface ofthe hard mask film 3 as the surface of the mask blank 10 and in thevicinity thereof. The oxygen content is highest at the surface of thehard mask film 3 directly exposed to the atmosphere containing oxygenand moderately lowers inward, away from the surface. Away from thesurface by a certain distance, a composition of the hard mask film 3becomes substantially constant. In this disclosure, the region which isformed on the surface of the hard mask film 3 and in the region adjacentthereto and which has the oxygen content greater than that in the otherpart but moderately decreasing away from the surface is represented asthe composition gradient portion. A part of the hard mask film 3excluding the composition gradient portion (i.e., a region excluding thecomposition gradient portion) has a substantially constant composition.Specifically, a difference in content of each constituent component inthe thickness direction is preferably smaller than 10 atomic %, morepreferably equal to 8 atomic % or less, and further preferably equal to5 atomic % or less with respect to any constituent element.

In this disclosure, the part of the hard mask film 3 excluding thecomposition gradient portion has a chromium content of 50 atomic % ormore. If the chromium content is 50 atomic % or more, it is possible tosuppress side etching caused when the hard mask film 3 is patterned bythe dry etching in the high-bias condition using, as a mask, the resistfilm having the transfer pattern and formed on the surface of the maskblank 10. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce LWR of the transferpattern formed on the hard mask film 3 by the dry etching.

The part of the hard mask film 3 excluding the composition gradientportion preferably has a chromium content of 80 atomic % or less. If thechromium content is greater than 80 atomic %, an etching rate issignificantly decreased when the hard mask film 3 is patterned by thedry etching in the high-bias condition. Therefore, in order tosufficiently secure the etching rate when the hard mask film 3 ispatterned by the dry etching in the high-bias condition, the part of thehard mask film 3 excluding the composition gradient portion preferablyhas a chromium content of 80 atomic % or less as described above.

In this disclosure, the hard mask film 3 has a maximum peak of N1snarrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy (XPS), which is not higher than a lower detection limit.

If the peak of N1s narrow spectrum exists, Cr—N bond exists in thechromium-based material forming the hard mask film 3 at a predeterminedratio or more. If Cr—N bond exists in the material forming the hard maskfilm 3 at the predetermined ratio or more, it is difficult to suppressthe progress of side etching when the hard mask film 3 is patterned bythe dry etching in the high-bias condition. In this disclosure, thecontent of nitrogen (N) in the hard mask film 3 is desirably equal to orless than a detection limit value.

In this disclosure, the part of the hard mask film 3 excluding thecomposition gradient portion has a maximum peak of Cr2p narrow spectrum,obtained by the analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, at abinding energy of 574 eV or less.

In case where the chromium-based material is in the state where Cr2pnarrow spectrum has a maximum peak at a binding energy higher than 574eV, i.e., in the state of chemical shift, this represents a state wherean abundance ratio of chromium atoms bonded to other atoms(particularly, nitrogen) is high. Such a chromium-based material tendsto have low resistance against dry etching by a chemical reactioncontributing to etching in a side wall direction of a pattern.Therefore, it is difficult to suppress the progress of the side etching.In comparison, in case where the part of the hard mask film 3 excludingthe composition gradient portion is made of a chromium-based materialhaving a maximum peak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis ofX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 574 eV or lessas in this disclosure, it is possible to suppress the progress of theside etching when the hard mask film 3 is patterned by the dry etchingin the high-bias condition. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce LWR ofthe transfer pattern formed on the hard mask film 3 by the dry etching.

In this disclosure, a ratio of the content [atomic %] of carbon in thepart of the hard mask film 3 excluding the composition gradient portiondivided by the total content [atomic %] of chromium, carbon, and oxygenis preferably equal to 0.1 or more, more preferably equal to or 0.14 ormore. In this disclosure, the hard mask film 3 is made of a materialcontaining chromium, oxygen, and carbon. Most of chromium in the hardmask film 3 exists in any of the form of Cr—O bond, the form of Cr—Cbond, and the form of no bond with either oxygen or carbon. Therefore,in the chromium-based material with a high ratio of the content [atomic%] of carbon divided by the total content [atomic %] of chromium,carbon, and oxygen, an abundance ratio of Cr—C bond in the material ishigh. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the progress of side etchingwhen such chromium-based material is patterned by the dry etching in thehigh-bias condition. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce LWR of thetransfer pattern formed on the hard mask film 3 by the dry etching. Theratio of the content [atomic %] of carbon in the part of the hard maskfilm 3 excluding the composition gradient portion divided by the totalcontent [atomic %] of chromium and carbon is preferably equal to or morethan 0.14, more preferably equal to or more than 0.16.

As described above, the hard mask film 3 is made of the materialcontaining chromium, oxygen, and carbon. The total content of chromium,oxygen, and carbon is preferably equal to 95 atomic % or more, morepreferably equal to 98 atomic % or more. Particularly preferably, thehard mask film 3 is made of chromium, oxygen, and carbon mentionedabove, except for impurities inevitably mixed during film formation.Herein, the inevitably mixed impurities include those elements containedin a sputtering gas when the hard mask film 3 is formed by sputtering,for example, argon, helium, neon, krypton, xenon, hydrogen, and so on.

In this disclosure, the part of the hard mask film 3 excluding thecomposition gradient portion preferably has an oxygen content notsmaller than 10 atomic % and not greater than 35 atomic %. By containingoxygen in the chromium-based material forming the hard mask film 3 atthe content within the above-mentioned range, the etching rate in caseof the dry etching in the high-bias condition is considerably increasedso as to considerably shorten the etching time in the film thicknessdirection.

The part of the hard mask film 3 excluding the composition gradientportion has a carbon content not smaller than 10 atomic % and notgreater than 20 atomic %. By containing carbon in the chromium-basedmaterial forming the hard mask film 3 at the content within theabove-mentioned range, it is possible to increase the etching rate incase of the dry etching in the high-bias condition and to suppress theprogress of side etching. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce LWR ofthe transfer pattern to be formed on the hard mask film 3 by the dryetching.

Preferably, the composition gradient portion of the hard mask film 3 hasa maximum peak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 576 eV or more.

Preferably, the hard mask film 3 has a maximum peak of Si2p narrowspectrum, obtained by analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,which is not higher than a lower detection limit. If the peak of Si2pnarrow spectrum exists, unbonded silicon or silicon bonded to otheratoms exist at a predetermined ratio or more in the material forming thehard mask film 3. Such material is not desirable because the etchingrate with respect to the dry etching using a mixed gas of achlorine-based gas and an oxygen gas tends to decrease. Therefore, inthe hard mask film 3, the content of silicon is preferably equal to 1atomic % or less, desirably not higher than a lower detection limit.

Although a method for forming the hard mask film 3 need not beparticularly limited, sputtering film formation is preferable amongothers. The sputtering film formation is favorable because a uniformfilm with a constant thickness can be formed. Since a highly conductivetarget is used in formation of the hard mask film 3, it is morepreferable to use DC sputtering having a relatively high film formationrate.

The thickness of the hard mask film 3 need not be particularly limitedbut, generally, is preferably equal to 15 nm or less. The hard mask film3 serves as an etching mask when the light shielding film 2 directlythereunder is patterned by dry etching using a fluorine-based gas.Therefore, it may be desirable for the hard mask film to have athickness at least to the extent that the hard mask film does notdisappear before completion of etching of the light shielding film 2directly thereunder. On the other hand, if the thickness of the hardmask film 3 is large, it is difficult to thin the resist patterndirectly thereon. From this point of view, the thickness of the hardmask film 3 in this disclosure is more preferably within a range, forexample, not smaller than 3 nm and not greater than 15 nm, furtherpreferably not smaller than 3.5 nm and not greater than 10 nm.

Next, the light shielding film 2 will be described.

In this disclosure, the light shielding film 2 is made of a materialcontaining one or more elements selected from silicon and tantalum.

In this disclosure, by selecting the chromium-based material as amaterial of the hard mask film 3, it is possible to secure high etchselectivity with respect to the light shielding film 2 made of thesilicon-based material or the tantalum-based material.

As the material forming the light shielding film 2 and containing one ormore elements selected from silicon and tantalum, the followingmaterials are presented in this disclosure.

As a material containing silicon, a material consisting of silicon andnitrogen, or a material further containing one or more elements selectedfrom metalloid elements and non-metal elements in addition to theabove-mentioned material is preferable. As the metalloid elements inthis case, one or more elements selected from boron, germanium,antimony, and tellurium are preferable. The non-metal elements in thiscase include non-metal elements in a narrow sense (nitrogen, carbon,oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and selenium), halogen, and noble gas.

Other materials containing silicon and suitable for the light shieldingfilm 2 include a material containing, in addition to silicon andtransition metal, one or more elements selected from oxygen, nitrogen,carbon, boron, and hydrogen. The transition metal in this case includes,for example, molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), tantalum(Ta), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), niobium (Nb), vanadium (V), cobalt(Co), nickel (Ni), ruthenium (Ru), tin (Sn), chromium (Cr), and so on.Such a material containing silicon and transition metal has a high lightshielding performance so that the thickness of the light shielding film2 can be reduced.

As a material containing tantalum, a material containing tantalum andone or more element selected from nitrogen, oxygen, boron, and carbon isused in addition to tantalum metal. Specifically, for example, Ta, TaN,TaO, TaON, TaBN, TaBO, TaBON, TaCN, TaCO, TaCON, TaBCN, TaBOCN, and soon are preferable.

Although a method for forming the light shielding film 2 need not beparticularly limited, sputtering film formation is preferable amongothers. The sputtering film formation is favorable because a uniformfilm with a constant thickness can be formed. When the light shieldingfilm 2 is made of a material consisting of silicon and nitrogen, or amaterial containing one or more elements selected from metalloidelements and non-metal elements in addition to the above-mentionedmaterial, film formation is preferably carried out using RF sputteringor ion beam sputtering because a target has low conductivity. On theother hand, when the light shielding film 2 is made of a materialcontaining, in addition to silicon and transition metal, one or moreelements selected from oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, boron, and hydrogen ora material containing tantalum, film formation is preferably carried outusing DC sputtering having a relatively high film formation rate becausea target has relatively high conductivity.

The light shielding film 2 may have a single layer structure or amultilayer structure. For example, the light shielding film may have adouble layer structure comprising a light shielding layer and a surfacereflection prevention layer, or a three layer structure furthercomprising a back surface reflection prevention layer.

It may be desirable for the light shielding film 2 to securepredetermined light shieldability, for example, to have an opticaldensity (OD), which is equal to 2.8 or more, preferably equal to 3.0 ormore, with respect to exposure light of an ArF excimer laser(wavelength: 193 nm) effective for fine pattern formation.

The thickness of the light shielding film 2 need not be particularlylimited but is preferably equal to 80 nm or less, more preferably equalto 70 nm or less, in order to accurately form a fine pattern. On theother hand, since it may be desirable for the light shielding film 2 tosecure predetermined light shieldability (optical density) as describedabove, the thickness of the light shielding film 2 is preferably equalto 30 nm or more, more preferably equal to 40 nm or more.

As regards the mask blank 10 mentioned above, description has been madeabout the structure in which no other film is formed between thetransparent substrate 1 and the light shielding film 2. However, themask blank in this disclosure is not limited thereto. The mask blank ofthis disclosure includes a mask blank having a multilayer structurecomprising an etching stopper film between the transparent substrate 1and the light shielding film 2 mentioned above. A material of theetching stopper film in this case includes a material containingchromium, a material containing aluminum and oxygen, a materialcontaining aluminum, silicon, and oxygen, and so on. The mask blank ofthis disclosure also includes a mask blank having a multilayer structurecomprising a light semi-transmitting film (halftone phase shift film orthe like) between the transparent substrate 1 and the light shieldingfilm 2 mentioned above. When the light semi-transmitting film and thelight shielding film 2 are made of materials to be dry-etched by thesame fluorine-based gas, an etching stopper film is preferably formedbetween the light semi-transmitting film and the light shielding film 2.A suitable material forming the etching stopper film in this case issimilar to those mentioned above.

The mask blank of this disclosure includes a configuration including aresist film on the surface of the mask blank 10 mentioned above.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view for illustrating a mask blankaccording to another embodiment of this disclosure. Parts equivalent tothose in FIG. 1 are depicted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mask blank 12 according to another embodiment ofthis disclosure has a structure in which a light shielding film 2 and ahard mask film 3 are laminated on a transparent substrate 1 in thisorder, and a resist film 4 is formed on the hard mask film 3. Thetransparent substrate 1, the light shielding film 2, and the hard maskfilm 3 of the mask blank 12 are similar to those of the above-mentionedmask blank 10 in FIG. 1 and, therefore, description thereof will beomitted herein. The resist film 4 is made of an organic material. Aresist material for electron beam writing is preferable. In particular,a chemically amplified resist material is preferably used.

Generally, the resist film 4 is formed on a surface of the mask blank bya coating method such as spin coating. In view of fine patternformation, the resist film 4 preferably has a thickness of 100 nm orless. In this disclosure, the resist film 4 can be a thinner film with athickness of 80 nm or less.

According to the mask blanks 10 and 12 having the above-mentionedconfigurations according to the embodiments of this disclosure, the maskblanks have the structure in which the light shielding film made of thesilicon-based material or the tantalum-based material and the hard maskfilm made of the chromium-based material are laminated on thetransparent substrate in this order. Even in case where the hard maskfilm is patterned by the dry etching in the high-bias condition using,as a mask, the resist film having a pattern to be formed on the lightshielding film and using the mixed gas of the chlorine-based gas and theoxygen gas, it is possible to reduce a side etching amount generated ona pattern side wall of the hard mask film and to reduce LWR (Line WidthRoughness). Thus, it is possible to accurately form a fine transferpattern on the hard mask film. Furthermore, by patterning the lightshielding film using, as a mask, the hard mask film provided with thetransfer pattern, it is possible to accurately form a fine pattern onthe light shielding film.

This disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing a transfer maskprepared from the above-mentioned mask blank according to thisdisclosure.

FIGS. 3A-3E are schematic sectional views for illustrating amanufacturing process of the transfer mask using the mask blankaccording to this disclosure. Herein, description will be made using theabove-mentioned mask blank 12, illustrated in FIG. 2, according to theembodiment having the resist film.

On the surface of the mask blank 12, the resist film 4 for electron beamwriting is formed to a predetermined thickness (see FIG. 3A).

At first, a predetermined pattern is written on the resist film 4 byelectron beam writing and, after writing, developed to thereby form apredetermined resist pattern 4 a (see FIG. 3B). The resist pattern 4 ahas a desired device pattern to be formed on the light shielding film 2as a final transfer pattern.

Next, by dry etching using a mixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and anoxygen gas and using, as a mask, the resist pattern 4 a formed on thehard mask film 3 of the mask blank, a hard mask film pattern 3 a isformed on the hard mask film 3 (see FIG. 3C). In this disclosure, it ispreferable to apply the above-mentioned dry etching in the high-biascondition in this case.

By using the mask blank of this disclosure, it is possible to reduce theside etching amount generated on a pattern side wall of the hard maskfilm 3 when the hard mask film 3 is patterned by dry etching, and toreduce LWR also. Accordingly, a fine pattern can accurately be formed onthe hard mask film 3. Thus, the fine transfer pattern of the resistpattern 4 a is accurately transferred to the hard mask film 3.

Next, after removing the remaining resist pattern 4 a, a light shieldingfilm pattern 2 a is formed on the light shielding film 2 by dry etchingusing a fluorine-based gas and using, as a mask, the pattern 3 a formedon the hard mask film 3 (see FIG. 3D).

By patterning the light shielding film 2 using, as a mask, the hard maskfilm with the fine pattern 3 a accurately formed thereon, it is possibleto accurately form the fine pattern on the light shielding film 2 also.

Finally, by removing the hard mask film pattern 3 a exposed on a surfaceby dry etching using a mixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygengas (in this case, the dry etching in the normal condition is preferablyused), a transfer mask (binary mask) 20 comprising, on the transparentsubstrate 1, the fine pattern 2 a of the light shielding film to serveas a transfer pattern is completed (see FIG. 3E).

By using the mask blank of this disclosure as described above, it ispossible to manufacture the transfer mask 20 provided with ahigh-accuracy fine transfer pattern.

According to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, having astep of exposure-transferring, using the transfer mask 20 manufacturedusing the mask blank of this disclosure, the transfer pattern of thetransfer mask onto a resist film on a semiconductor substrate bylithography, it is possible to manufacture a high-quality semiconductordevice provided with a device pattern excellent in pattern accuracy.

In the foregoing, description has been made about the method formanufacturing a binary mask from the above-mentioned mask blank 12.However, it is also possible to manufacture a phase shift mask of aneroded Levenson type from the mask blank 12.

On the other hand, the hard mask film 3 of the mask blank in thisdisclosure is also applicable to a mask blank in another embodiment formanufacturing a reflective mask for EUV lithography with extreme ultraviolet (hereinafter called EUV) light as an exposure light source.Specifically, the mask blank of another embodiment has a structure inwhich a multilayer reflective film, an absorber film, and a hard maskfilm are laminated on a substrate in this order. The absorber film ismade of a material containing tantalum. The hard mask film is a singlelayer film having a composition gradient portion increased in oxygencontent and formed on a surface of the hard mask film that faces awayfrom the absorber film and in a region adjacent thereto. The hard maskfilm is made of a material containing chromium, oxygen, and carbon. Apart of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradient portionhas a chromium content of 50 atomic % or more. The hard mask film has amaximum peak of N1s narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, which is not higher than a detection lowerlimit. The part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion has a maximum peak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysisof X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 574 eV orless. It is noted here that the EUV light refers to light in awavelength band of a soft X-ray region or a vacuum ultraviolet regionand, specifically, light having a wavelength of about 0.2 to 100 nm.

The structure of the hard mask film in the mask blank of anotherembodiment is similar to that of the above-mentioned hard mask film 3 ofthis disclosure. The absorber film is made of a material containingtantalum and is similar to the case of the material containing tantalumin the above-mentioned light shielding film 2 in this disclosure. As thesubstrate, a material such as synthetic quartz glass, quartz glass,aluminosilicate glass, soda lime glass, low-thermal-expansion glass(SiO₂—TiO₂ glass, or the like), crystallized glass with β-quartz solidsolution precipitated therein, single crystal silicon, SiC, and so onmay be used.

The multilayer reflective film is a multilayer film formed by laminatinga plurality of periods of laminates where one period is a laminate of alow refractive index layer made of a low refractive index materialhaving a low refractive index with respect to the EUV light and a highrefractive index layer made of a high refractive index layer having ahigh refractive index with respect to the EUV light. Generally, the lowrefractive index layer is formed by a light element or a compoundthereof while the high refractive index layer is formed by a heavyelement or a compound thereof. The number of periods of the multilayerreflective film is preferably 20 to 60 periods, more preferably 30 to 50periods. When the EUV light having a wavelength of 13 to 14 nm is usedas the exposure light, a multilayer film formed by alternativelylaminating a Mo layer and a Si layer in 20 to 60 periods is preferablyused. Besides, the multilayer reflective film applicable to the EUVlight includes a Si/Ru periodic multilayer film, a Be/Mo periodicmultilayer film, an Si compound/Mo compound periodic multilayer film, anSi/Nb periodic multilayer film, an Si/Mo/Ru periodic multilayer film, anSi/Mo/Ru/Mo periodic multilayer film, an Si/Ru/Mo/Ru periodic multilayerfilm, and so on. Depending on the wavelength band of the EUV light to beapplied, the material and the thickness of each layer may appropriatelybe selected. The multilayer reflective film is desirably formed bysputtering (DC sputtering, RF sputtering, ion beam sputtering, or thelike). In particular, it is desirable to use the ion beam sputteringeasy in film thickness control.

For a method for manufacturing a reflective mask from the mask blank ofanother embodiment, the method for manufacturing a transfer mask in thisdisclosure is applicable. Specifically, the method for manufacturing areflective mask using the mask blank of another embodiment comprises astep of forming a transfer pattern on a hard mask film by dry etchingusing a mixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygen gas with aresist film having a transfer pattern used as a mask, and a step offorming a transfer pattern on the absorber film by dry etching using, asa mask, a fluorine-based gas with a hard mask film having a transferpattern.

The hard mask film 3 of the mask blank of this disclosure is applicableto a mask blank for use in manufacturing an imprint mold. Specifically,the mask blank for imprint mold comprises a substrate and a hard maskfilm formed on a main surface thereof. The hard mask film is a singlelayer film having a composition gradient portion increased in oxygencontent and formed on a surface of the hard mask film that faces awayfrom the substrate and in a region adjacent thereto. The hard mask filmis made of a material containing chromium, oxygen, and carbon. A part ofthe hard mask film excluding the composition gradient portion has achromium content of 50 atomic % or more. The hard mask film has amaximum peak of N1s narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, which is not higher than a detection lowerlimit. The part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion has a maximum peak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysisof X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 574 eV orless.

The structure of the hard mask film in the mask blank for imprint moldis similar to that of the above-mentioned hard mask film 3 of thisdisclosure. The hard mask film serves as a hard mask against dry etchingusing a fluorine-based gas which is carried out when a mold pattern isformed on a main surface of the substrate (the substrate is eroded). Asthe substrate in this case, a material such as synthetic quartz glass,quartz glass, aluminosilicate glass, soda lime glass,low-thermal-expansion glass (SiO₂—TiO₂ glass or the like), crystallizedglass with β-quartz solid solution precipitated therein, single crystalsilicon, SiC, and so on is applicable. The shape of the main surface ofthe substrate is not limited but preferably is a rectangular shape.

The substrate may have a seating structure formed on a main surface onthe side provided with the hard mask film. In this case, the moldpattern is formed on the seating structure on the main surface. Theseating structure is preferably located at the center of the mainsurface. For example, the seating structure has a rectangular shape inplan view (as seen on the side of the main surface). The substrate maybe provided with a recessed portion formed on another main surfaceopposite to the main surface provided with the hard mask film.Preferably, the recessed portion in plan view has a size sufficient tocontain a region where the mold pattern is to be formed. For example,the recessed portion has a circular shape in plan view. The shape of thesubstrate in plan view, the shape of the seating structure, and theshape of the recessed portion are appropriately determined depending onintended use of the imprint mold manufactured from the substrate and arenot limited to the above-mentioned structures.

As a method for manufacturing an imprint mold from the mask blank forimprint mold, the method for manufacturing a transfer mask of thisdisclosure is applicable. Specifically, the method for manufacturing animprint mold using the mask blank for imprint mold comprises a step offorming, using a resist film having a mold pattern as a mask, a moldpattern on a hard mask film by dry etching using a mixed gas of achlorine-based gas and an oxygen gas, and a step of forming a moldpattern on a surface of a substrate by dry etching using afluorine-based gas and using, as a mask, a hard mask film provided withthe mold pattern.

The imprint mold manufactured from the mask blank may be either a mastermold or a replica mold (copy mold). In case where the master mold ismanufactured, for example, a resist film for electron beam writingexposure is applied and formed on the hard mask film and the moldpattern is written on the resist film by an electron beam and exposed.Through a development process and so on, the resist film having the moldpattern is formed. In case where the replica mold is manufactured, forexample, photo-curing liquid resin or thermosetting liquid resin isdropped onto the hard mask film. While a mold pattern of a master moldis pressed against the liquid resin, ultraviolet irradiation or heatingtreatment is performed to cure the liquid resin. Thereafter, the mastermold is peeled off to form the resist film having the mold pattern.

EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, the embodiments of this disclosure will more specificallybe described with reference to examples.

Example 1

Example 1 relates to a mask blank for use in manufacture of a transfermask (binary mask) using an ArF excimer laser having a wavelength of 193nm as exposure light, and to manufacture of the transfer mask.

A mask blank 10 used in Example 1 has a structure in which a lightshielding film 2 and a hard mask film 3 are laminated on a transparentsubstrate 1 in this order, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The mask blank 10was manufactured as follows.

The transparent substrate 1 (having a size of about 152 mm×152mm×thickness of about 6.35 mm) made of synthetic quartz glass wasprepared. In the transparent substrate 1, a main surface and an end faceare polished to a predetermined surface roughness (for example, the mainsurface has Rq of 0.2 nm or less).

Next, the transparent substrate 1 was placed in a single-wafer RFsputtering apparatus. Using a silicon (Si) target and a mixed gas ofkrypton (Kr), helium (He), and nitrogen (N₂) (flow rate ratioKr:He:N₂=10:100:1, pressure=0.1 Pa) as a sputtering gas with a power ofan RF power supply set at 1.5 kW, reactive sputtering (RF sputtering)was carried out to form the light shielding film 2 made of silicon andnitrogen (Si:N=50 atomic %:50 atomic %) on the transparent substrate 1to a thickness of 57 nm. Herein, the composition of the light shieldingfilm 2 is a result obtained by measurement using X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy (XPS) for a light shielding film formed on anothertransparent substrate in the condition same as that mentioned above.

Next, for the purpose of stress adjustment of the film, the transparentsubstrate 1 provided with the light shielding film 2 was subjected toheat treatment in the air in a condition of a heating temperature of500° C. and a processing time of 1 hour. A spectral transmittance of thelight shielding film 2 after the heat treatment was measured using aspectrophotometer (Cary 4000 manufactured by Agilent Technologies). As aresult, the transmittance of the light shielding film 2 with respect tolight of a long wavelength not shorter than 800 nm and not longer than900 nm monotonously increased as the wavelength become longer.Transmittances at the wavelengths of 800 nm, 850 nm, 890 nm, and 900 nmwere equal to 42.8%, 44.9%, 46.7%, and 47.0%, respectively. An opticaldensity (OD value) of the light shielding film 2 with respect to the ArFexcimer laser light (wavelength: 193 nm) was equal to 2.96.

Furthermore, by using a spectroscopic ellipsometer (M-2000D manufacturedby J. A. Woollam Co. Ltd.), a refractive index n and an extinctioncoefficient k of the light shielding film 2 were measured. As a result,the light shielding film 2 had the refractive index n of 1.830 and theextinction coefficient of 1.785 at the wavelength of 193 nm, therefractive index n of 3.172 and the extinction coefficient k of 0.093 atthe wavelength of 800 nm, the refractive index n of 3.137 and theextinction coefficient k of 0.066 at the wavelength of 850 nm, therefractive index n of 3.112 and the extinction coefficient of 0.050 atthe wavelength of 890 nm, and the refractive index n of 3.106 and theextinction coefficient k of 0.047 at the wavelength of 900 nm.Furthermore, by using a spectrophotometer (U-4100 manufactured byHitachi High-Technologies), a front surface reflectance and a rearsurface reflectance of the light shielding film 2 at the wavelength of193 nm were measured and were equal to 37.1% and 30.0%, respectively.

Next, the transparent substrate 1 provided with the light shielding film2 was placed in the single wafer DC sputtering apparatus. By reactivesputtering using a target of chromium in a mixed gas atmosphere of argon(Ar), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and helium (He), the hard mask film 3comprising a CrOC film containing chromium, oxygen, and carbon wasformed on the light shielding film 2 to the thickness of 9 nm.

In the above-mentioned manner, the mask blank 10 according to Example 1was manufactured.

Only the hard mask film 3 of Example 1 was formed on another transparentsubstrate 1 and the hard mask film 3 was analyzed by X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy (with RBS (Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy)correction). As a result, it was confirmed that the hard mask film 3 hada composition gradient portion (having an oxygen content of 40 atomic %or more) which was formed in a region adjacent to a surface of the hardmask film that faces away from the light shielding film 2 (a region fromthe surface to a depth of about 2 nm) and which had an oxygen contentgreater than that in the other region. It was also confirmed that, inthe region of the hard mask film 3 excluding the composition gradientportion, the contents of the respective constituent elements were Cr: 71atomic %, O: 15 atomic %, and C: 14 atomic % in average. Furthermore, itwas confirmed that, in the region of the hard mask film 3 excluding thecomposition gradient portion, a difference in content of eachconstituent element in the thickness direction was 3 atomic % or lessand there was no substantial composition gradient in the thicknessdirection.

FIG. 4 shows a result of depth direction chemical bonding state analysisof Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis on the hard mask film 3 ofExample 1 formed on another transparent substrate 1 by X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy. FIG. 5 shows a result of depth directionchemical bonding state analysis of O1s narrow spectrum. FIG. 6 shows aresult of depth direction chemical bonding state analysis of N1s narrowspectrum. FIG. 7 shows a result of depth direction chemical bondingstate analysis of C1s narrow spectrum. FIG. 8 shows a result of depthdirection chemical bonding state analysis of Si2p narrow spectrum.

In the analysis on the hard mask film 3 by X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy, the hard mask film 3 is analyzed in the film thicknessdirection by repeating the steps of at first radiating X-ray towards thesurface of the hard mask film 3 to measure energy distribution ofphotoelectrons emitted from the hard mask film 3, then eroding the hardmask film 3 by Ar gas sputtering for a predetermined time duration, andradiating X-ray to the surface of the hard mask film 3 in an erodedregion to measure energy distribution of photoelectrons emitted from thehard mask film 3. In Example 1, the analysis of X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy was carried out using monochromatized Al (1486.6 eV) as anX-ray source in a condition that a photoelectron detection area was 100μmϕ and a detection depth was about 4 to 5 nm (takeoff angle: 45 deg)(the same applies to examples and comparative examples hereinafter).

In each depth direction chemical bonding state analysis in FIGS. 4 to 8,a plot “0.00 min” in each figure shows an analysis result of anuppermost surface of the hard mask film 3 before the Ar gas sputtering(sputtering time: 0 min). A plot “1.60 min” in each figure shows ananalysis result at a position in the film thickness direction of thehard mask film 3 after eroding the hard mask film 3 from the uppermostsurface for 1.60 min by Ar gas sputtering.

The position in the film thickness direction of the hard mask film 3after eroding the hard mask film 3 from the uppermost surface for 1.60min by Ar gas sputtering is a position deeper than the above-mentionedcomposition gradient portion. Thus, the plot “1.60 min” is a measurementresult in the part of the hard mask film 3 excluding the compositiongradient portion.

In the narrow spectra in FIGS. 4 to 8, scales on the vertical axis arenot same. In N1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 6 and Si2p narrow spectrum inFIG. 8, the scales on the vertical axis are enlarged as compared withthe narrow spectra in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7. Therefore, a wave of vibrationin each of N1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 6 and Si2p narrow spectrum inFIG. 8 does not represent presence of a peak but represents noise.

From the analysis result of Cr2p narrow spectrum in FIG. 4, it isunderstood that the hard mask film 3 in Example 1 has a maximum peak ata binding energy of 574 eV in the region excluding the compositiongradient portion. The above-mentioned result means that chromium atomswhich are not bonded to atoms such as oxygen exist in the hard mask film3 at a predetermined ratio or more.

From the analysis result of O1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 5, it isunderstood that the hard mask film 3 in Example 1 has a maximum peak ata binding energy of about 530 eV in the region excluding the compositiongradient portion. The above-mentioned result means that Cr—O bond existsin the hard mask film 3 at a predetermined ratio or more.

From the analysis result of N1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 6, it isunderstood that the hard mask film 3 in Example 1 has a maximum peak ofthe binding energy which is not higher than a detection lower limit inall regions in the thickness direction. The above-mentioned result meansthat atoms bonded to nitrogen, including Cr—N bond, were not detected inthe hard mask film 3.

From the analysis result of C1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 7, it isunderstood that the hard mask film 3 in Example 1 has a maximum peak ata binding energy of 282 eV to 283 eV in the region excluding thecomposition gradient portion. The above-mentioned result means that Cr—Cbond exists in the hard mask film 3 at a predetermined ratio or more.

From the analysis result of Si2p narrow spectrum in FIG. 8, it isunderstood that, in the hard mask film 3 in Example 1, the maximum peakof the binding energy is not higher than the detection lower limit inall regions in the thickness direction. The above-mentioned result meansthat atoms bonded to silicon, including Cr—Si bond, were not detected inthe hard mask film 3.

Next, using the mask blank 10, a transfer mask (binary mask) wasmanufactured according to the above-mentioned manufacturing processillustrated in FIGS. 3A-3E. The following reference numerals correspondto those in FIGS. 3A-3E.

At first, a chemically amplified resist for electron beam writing(PRL009 manufactured by Fuji Film Electronics Materials Co. Ltd.) wasapplied onto an upper surface of the above-mentioned mask blank 10 byspin coating and subjected to predetermined baking to form a resist film4 having a thickness of 80 nm (see FIG. 3A).

Next, using an electron beam writing apparatus, a predetermined devicepattern (pattern corresponding to a transfer pattern to be formed on thelight shielding film 2) was written on the resist film 4 and,thereafter, the resist film was developed to form a resist pattern 4 a(see FIG. 3B). The resist pattern 4 a includes a line-and-space patternhaving a line width of 100 nm.

Next, with the resist pattern 4 a used as a mask, the hard mask film 3was dry etched by the above-mentioned dry etching in the high-biascondition to form a pattern 3 a on the hard mask film 3 (see FIG. 3C).The dry etching was carried out using, as a dry etching gas, a mixed gasof a chlorine gas (Cl₂) and an oxygen gas (O₂) (Cl₂:O₂=13:1 (flow rateratio)) with a high bias such that the power upon application of a biasvoltage was 50 W.

Next, after the above-mentioned resist pattern 4 a was removed, thelight shielding film 2 comprising an SiN film was dry etched with thepattern 3 a of the hard mask film used as a mask to form a pattern 2 aon the light shielding film 2 (see FIG. 3D). As a dry etching gas, afluorine-based gas (CF₄) was used.

Finally, the pattern 3 a of the hard mask film was removed by theabove-mentioned dry etching in the normal condition to complete a binarytransfer mask 20 having the light shielding film pattern 2 a on thetransparent substrate 1 (see FIG. 3E). Herein, dry etching was carriedout using a mixed gas of a chlorine gas (Cl₂) and an oxygen gas (O₂)(Cl₂:O₂: 4:1 (flow rate ratio)) as a dry etching gas with a low biassuch that the power upon application of a bias voltage was 5 W.

In the above-mentioned manufacturing process of the transfer mask, foreach of the resist pattern 4 a, the hard mask film pattern 3 a, and thelight shielding film pattern 2 a, the line width was measured by acritical dimension scanning electron microscope (CD-SEM) in the regionwhere the line-and-space pattern was formed.

At each of a plurality of positions in the same region where theline-and-space pattern was formed, an etching bias was calculated whichwas a variation amount between the line width of the resist pattern 4 aand the line width of the hard mask film pattern 3 a and, furthermore,an average value of etching bias was calculated. As a result, theaverage value of etching bias was about 6 nm which was significantlysmaller than that in case of dry etching on a conventionalchromium-based material film. LWR (Line Width Roughness) of the hardmask film pattern 3 a was about 6 nm which was a considerably smallvalue.

This shows that, also in case where the hard mask film 3 is patterned bythe dry etching in the high-bias condition using the resist pattern 4 aas a mask and using a mixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygengas, it is possible to reduce the side etching amount generated on thepattern side wall of the hard mask film 3 and to reduce LWR. Therefore,a fine pattern can accurately be formed on the hard mask film 3.Therefore, the fine transfer pattern of the resist pattern 4 a isaccurately transferred to the hard mask film 3.

At a plurality of positions in the same region where the line-and-spacepattern is formed, an average value of etching bias between the linewidth of the hard mask film pattern 3 a and the line width of the lightshielding film pattern 2 a was calculated. As a result, the averagevalue was about 5 nm which was a very small value. Thus, when the lightshielding film 2 is patterned by dry etching using the fluorine-basedgas and using, as a mask, the hard mask film with the fine pattern 3 aaccurately formed thereon, a fine pattern can accurately be formed onthe light shielding film 2 also.

The above-mentioned transfer mask 20 thus obtained was subjected toinspection of the mask pattern by a mask inspection apparatus. As aresult, it was confirmed that the fine pattern was formed in anallowable range from a designed value.

As described above, by using the mask blank of Example 1, it is possibleto manufacture the transfer mask 20 provided with a high-accuracy finetransfer pattern.

Furthermore, by using AIMS193 (manufactured by Carl Zeiss), the transfermask 20 was subjected to simulation of an exposure transfer image whenexposure transfer was carried out onto a resist film on a semiconductordevice using exposure light having a wavelength of 193 nm. When theexposure transfer image obtained by the simulation was verified, adesign specification was sufficiently satisfied. From the above, it issaid that, when the transfer mask 20 manufactured from the mask blank ofExample 1 is set in the exposure apparatus and is subjected to exposuretransfer by the exposure light of the ArF excimer laser, exposuretransfer can be carried out with high accuracy onto the resist film onthe semiconductor device.

Example 2

A mask blank 10 in Example 2 was prepared in the manner similar toExample 1 except a hard mask film 3. The hard mask film 3 in Example 2was formed in a film forming condition changed from that of the hardmask film 3 in Example 1 as follows.

Specifically, a synthetic quartz substrate provided with the lightshielding film 2 comprising the SiN film in Example 1 was placed in asingle-wafer DC sputtering apparatus. Using a target comprisingchromium, reactive sputtering was carried out in a mixed gas atmosphereof Argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and helium (He) so that the hardmask film 3 comprising a CrOC film containing chromium, oxygen, andcarbon was formed on the light shielding film 2 to the thickness of 9nm.

In the above-mentioned manner, the mask blank 10 of Example 2 wasprepared.

Only the hard mask film 3 in Example 2 was formed on another transparentsubstrate 1 and the hard mask film 3 was analyzed by X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy (with RBS correction). As a result, it was confirmed thatthe hard mask film 3 had a composition gradient portion (having anoxygen content of 40 atomic % or more) which was formed in the regionnear a surface of the hard mask film 3 that faces away from the lightshielding film 2 (the region from the surface to the depth of 2 nm) andwhich had an oxygen content greater than that in the other region. Itwas also confirmed that, in the region of the hard mask film 3 excludingthe composition gradient portion, the contents of the respectiveconstituent elements were Cr: 55 atomic %, O: 30 atomic %, and C: 15atomic % in average. Furthermore, it was confirmed that, in the regionof the hard mask film 3 excluding the composition gradient portion, adifference in content of each constituent element in the thicknessdirection was 3 atomic % or less and there was no substantialcomposition gradient in the thickness direction.

In the manner similar to Example 1, FIG. 9 shows a result of depthdirection chemical bonding state analysis of Cr2p narrow spectrum,obtained by analysis on the hard mask film 3 of Example 2 formed onanother transparent substrate 1 by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.FIG. 10 shows a result of depth direction chemical bonding stateanalysis of O1s narrow spectrum. FIG. 11 shows a result of depthdirection chemical bonding state analysis of N1s narrow spectrum. FIG.12 shows a result of depth direction chemical bonding state analysis ofC1s narrow spectrum. FIG. 13 shows a result of depth direction chemicalbonding state analysis of Si2p narrow spectrum.

In each depth direction chemical bonding state analysis in FIGS. 9 to13, a plot “0.00 min” in each figure shows an analysis result of anuppermost surface of the hard mask film 3 before the Ar gas sputtering(sputtering time: 0 min). A plot “1.60 min” in each figure shows ananalysis result at a position in the film thickness direction of thehard mask film 3 after eroding the hard mask film 3 from the uppermostsurface for 1.60 min by Ar gas sputtering.

The position in the hard mask film 3 in the film thickness directionafter eroding the hard mask film 3 from the uppermost surface for 1.60min by Ar gas sputtering is a position deeper than the above-mentionedcomposition gradient portion. Thus, the plot “1.60 min” is a measurementresult in the part of the hard mask film 3 excluding the compositiongradient portion.

In the narrow spectra in FIGS. 9 to 13, scales on the vertical axis arenot same. In N1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 11 and the Si2p narrow spectrumin FIG. 13, the scales on the vertical axis are enlarged as comparedwith the narrow spectra in FIGS. 9, 10, and 12. Therefore, a wave ofvibration in each of N1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 11 and Si2p narrowspectrum in FIG. 13 does not represent presence of a peak but representsnoise.

From the analysis result of Cr2p narrow spectrum in FIG. 9, it isunderstood that the hard mask film 3 in Example 2 has a maximum peak ata binding energy of 574 eV in the region excluding the compositiongradient portion. The above-mentioned result means that chromium atomswhich are not bonded to atoms such as oxygen exist in the hard mask film3 at a predetermined ratio or more.

From the analysis result of O1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 10, it isunderstood that the hard mask film 3 in Example 2 has a maximum peak ata binding energy of about 530 eV in the region excluding the compositiongradient portion. The above-mentioned result means that Cr—O bond existsin the hard mask film 3 at a predetermined ratio or more.

From the analysis result of N1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 11, it isunderstood that the hard mask film 3 in Example 2 has a maximum peak ofthe binding energy which is not higher than a detection lower limit inall regions in the thickness direction. The above-mentioned result meansthat atoms bonded to nitrogen, including Cr—N bond, were not detected inthe hard mask film 3.

From the analysis result of C1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 12, it isunderstood that the hard mask film 3 in Example 2 has a maximum peak ata binding energy of 282 eV to 283 eV in the region excluding thecomposition gradient portion. The above-mentioned result means that Cr—Cbond exists in the hard mask film 3 at a predetermined amount or more.

From the analysis result of Si2p narrow spectrum in FIG. 13, it isunderstood that, in the hard mask film 3 in Example 2, the maximum peakof the binding energy is not higher than the detection lower limit inall regions in the thickness direction. The above-mentioned result meansthat atoms bonded to silicon, including Cr—Si bond, were not detected inthe hard mask film 3.

Next, using the mask blank 10 in Example 2, a transfer mask (binarymask) 20 having a light shielding film pattern 2 a on the transparentsubstrate 1 was manufactured according to a manufacturing processsimilar to that in Example 1 mentioned above.

In the manner similar to Example 1, in the manufacturing process of thetransfer mask in Example 2, for each of the resist pattern 4 a, the hardmask film pattern 3 a, and the light shielding film pattern 2 a, theline width was measured by a critical dimension SEM in the region wherethe line-and-space pattern was formed.

At each of a plurality of positions in the same region where theline-and-space pattern was formed, an etching bias was calculated whichwas a variation amount between the line width of the resist pattern 4 aand the line width of the hard mask film pattern 3 a and, furthermore,an average value of etching bias was calculated. As a result, theaverage value of etching bias was about 10 nm which was significantlysmaller than that in case of dry etching on a conventionalchromium-based material film. LWR of the hard mask film pattern 3 a wasabout 6.5 nm which was a considerably small value.

This shows that, also in case where the hard mask film 3 is patterned bythe dry etching in the high-bias condition using the resist pattern 4 aas a mask and using a mixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygengas, it is possible to reduce the side etching amount generated on thepattern side wall of the hard mask film 3 and to reduce LWR. Therefore,a fine pattern can accurately be formed on the hard mask film 3. Thus,the fine transfer pattern of the resist pattern 4 a is accuratelytransferred to the hard mask film 3.

At a plurality of positions in the same region where the line-and-spacepattern is formed, an average value of etching bias between the linewidth of the hard mask film pattern 3 a and the line width of the lightshielding film pattern 2 a was calculated. As a result, the averagevalue was about 5 nm which is a very small value. Thus, when the lightshielding film 2 is patterned by dry etching using the fluorine-basedgas and using, as a mask, the hard mask film with the fine pattern 3 aaccurately formed thereon, a fine pattern can accurately be formed onthe light shielding film 2 also.

The above-mentioned transfer mask 20 in Example 2 thus obtained wassubjected to inspection of the mask pattern by a mask inspectionapparatus. As a result, it was confirmed that the fine pattern wasformed in an allowable range from a designed value.

As described above, by using the mask blank of Example 2, it is possibleto manufacture the transfer mask 20 provided with a high-accuracy finetransfer pattern.

Furthermore, by using AIMS193 (manufactured by Carl Zeiss), the transfermask 20 of Example 2 was subjected to simulation of an exposure transferimage when exposure transfer was carried out onto a resist film on asemiconductor device using exposure light having a wavelength of 193 nm,in the manner similar to Example 1. When the exposure transfer imageobtained by the simulation was verified, a design specification wassufficiently satisfied. From the above, it is said that, when thetransfer mask 20 manufactured from the mask blank of Example 2 is set inthe exposure apparatus and is subjected to exposure transfer by exposurelight of the ArF excimer laser, exposure transfer can be carried outwith high accuracy onto the resist film on the semiconductor device.

Comparative Example 1

A mask blank of Comparative Example 1 was prepared in the manner similarto Example 1 except a hard mask film. The hard mask film in ComparativeExample 1 was formed in a film forming condition changed from that ofthe hard mask film 3 in Example 1 as follows.

Specifically, a synthetic quartz substrate provided with the lightshielding film 2 comprising the SiN film in Example 1 was placed in asingle-wafer DC sputtering apparatus. Using a target comprisingchromium, reactive sputtering was carried out in a mixed gas atmosphereof Argon (Ar), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen (N₂), and helium (He) sothat the hard mask film comprising a CrOCN film containing chromium,oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen was formed on the light shielding film 2 tothe thickness of 9 nm.

In the above-mentioned manner, the mask blank of Comparative Example 1was prepared.

Next, only the hard mask film in Comparative Example 1 was formed onanother transparent substrate 1 and the hard mask film was analyzed byX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (with RBS correction). As a result, itwas confirmed that the hard mask film in Comparative Example 1 had acomposition gradient portion (having an oxygen content of 40 atomic % ormore) which was formed in a region adjacent to a surface of the hardmask film that faces away from the light shielding film (the region fromthe surface to the depth of 2 nm) and which had an oxygen contentgreater than that in the other region. It was also confirmed that, inthe region of the hard mask film in Comparative Example 1 excluding thecomposition gradient portion, the contents of the respective constituentelements were Cr: 55 atomic %, O: 22 atomic %, C: 12 atomic %, and N: 11atomic % in average. Furthermore, it was confirmed that, in the regionof the hard mask film excluding the composition gradient portion, adifference in content of each constituent element in the thicknessdirection was 3 atomic % or less and there was no substantialcomposition gradient in the thickness direction.

In the manner similar to Example 1, FIG. 14 shows a result of depthdirection chemical bonding state analysis of Cr2p narrow spectrum,obtained by analysis on the hard mask film of Comparative Example 1formed on another transparent substrate 1 by X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy. FIG. 15 shows a result of depth direction chemical bondingstate analysis of O1s narrow spectrum. FIG. 16 shows a result of depthdirection chemical bonding state analysis of N1s narrow spectrum. FIG.17 shows a result of depth direction chemical bonding state analysis ofC1s narrow spectrum. FIG. 18 shows a result of depth direction chemicalbonding state analysis of Si2p narrow spectrum.

In each depth direction chemical bonding state analysis in FIGS. 14 to18, a plot “1.60 min” in each figure shows an analysis result at aposition in the film thickness direction of the hard mask film aftereroding the hard mask film from the uppermost surface for 1.60 min by Argas sputtering.

The position in the hard mask film in the film thickness direction aftereroding the hard mask film from the uppermost surface for 1.60 min by Argas sputtering is a position deeper than the above-mentioned compositiongradient portion. Thus, the plot “1.60 min” is a measurement result inthe part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion.

From the analysis result of Cr2p narrow spectrum in FIG. 14, it isunderstood that the hard mask film in Comparative Example 1 has amaximum peak at a binding energy greater than 574 eV in the regionexcluding the composition gradient portion. The above-mentioned resultmeans a so-called chemical shift state which is a state where anabundance ratio of chromium atoms which are not bonded to atoms such asnitrogen and oxygen is considerably small. Therefore, resistance againstetching based on a chemical reaction is low and side etching isdifficult to suppress.

From the analysis result of O1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 15, it isunderstood that the hard mask film in Comparative Example 1 has amaximum peak at a binding energy of about 530 eV in the region excludingthe composition gradient portion. The above-mentioned result means thatCr—O bond exists at a predetermined ratio or more.

From the analysis result of N1 s narrow spectrum in FIG. 16, it isunderstood that the hard mask film in Comparative Example 1 has amaximum peak at a binding energy of about 397 eV in the region excludingthe composition gradient portion. The above-mentioned result means thatCr—N bond exists in the hard mask film in Comparative Example 1 at apredetermined ratio or more. Therefore, it may be said that side etchingeasily progresses.

From the analysis result of C1s narrow spectrum in FIG. 17, it isunderstood that the hard mask film in Comparative Example 1 has amaximum peak at a binding energy of 283 eV in the region excluding thecomposition gradient portion. The above-mentioned result means that Cr—Cbond exists at a predetermined ratio or more.

From the analysis result of Si2p narrow spectrum in FIG. 18, it isunderstood that the hard mask film in Comparative Example 1 has amaximum peak of the binding energy which is not higher than a detectionlower limit in the region excluding the composition gradient portion.The above-mentioned result means that atoms bonded to silicon, includingCr—Si bond, were not detected in the hard mask film in ComparativeExample 1.

Next, using the mask blank in Comparative Example 1, a transfer mask(binary mask) in Comparative Example 1 was manufactured according to amanufacturing process similar to that in Example 1 mentioned above.

In the manner similar to Example 1, in the manufacturing process of thetransfer mask in Comparative Example 1, for each of the resist pattern 4a and the hard mask film pattern 3 a, the line width was measured by theabove-mentioned critical dimension SEM in the region where theline-and-space pattern was formed.

At each of a plurality of positions in the same region where theline-and-space pattern was formed, an etching bias was calculated whichwas a variation amount between the line width of the resist pattern 4 aand the line width of the hard mask film pattern 3 a and, furthermore,an average value of etching bias was calculated. As a result, theaverage value of etching bias was about 27 nm which was relativelylarge, like in case of dry etching on a conventional chromium-basedmaterial film. LWR of the hard mask film pattern 3 a was about 7.5 nmwhich was a relatively large value.

This shows that, also in case where the hard mask film 3 is patterned bythe dry etching in the high-bias condition using the resist pattern 4 aas a mask and using a mixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygengas, it is difficult to suppress the side etching amount generated on apattern side wall of the hard mask film 3. Therefore, it may not bepossible to accurately form a fine pattern on the hard mask film 3.Thus, it is difficult to accurately transfer the fine transfer patternof the resist pattern 4 a to the hard mask film 3.

Furthermore, by using AIMS193 (manufactured by Carl Zeiss), the transfermask 20 of Comparative Example 1 was subjected to simulation of anexposure transfer image when exposure transfer was carried out onto aresist film on a semiconductor device using exposure light having awavelength of 193 nm, in the manner similar to Example 1. When theexposure transfer image obtained by the simulation was verified,transfer defect was confirmed. It is presumed that the defect is causedby a factor of insufficient pattern accuracy in a final shielding filmpattern, resulting from a large side etching amount of the hard maskfilm pattern and large LWR (Line Width Roughness).

Comparative Example 2

A mask blank of Comparative Example 2 was prepared in the manner similarto Example 1 except the hard mask film. The hard mask film inComparative Example 2 was formed in a film forming condition changedfrom that of the hard mask film 3 in Example 1 as follows.

Specifically, a synthetic quartz substrate provided with the lightshielding film 2 comprising the SiN film in Example 1 was placed in asingle-wafer DC sputtering apparatus. Using a target comprisingchromium, reactive sputtering was carried out in a mixed gas atmosphereof Argon (Ar), nitrogen monoxide (NO), and helium (He) so that the hardmask film comprising a CrON film containing chromium, oxygen, andnitrogen was formed on the light shielding film 2 to the thickness of 9nm.

In the above-mentioned manner, the mask blank of Comparative Example 2was prepared.

Next, only the hard mask film in Comparative Example 2 was formed onanother transparent substrate 1 and the hard mask film was analyzed byX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (with RBS correction). As a result, itwas confirmed that the hard mask film in Comparative Example 2 had acomposition gradient portion (having an oxygen content of 40 atomic % ormore) which was formed in a region adjacent to a surface of the hardmask film that faces away from the light shielding film (the region fromthe surface to the depth of 2 nm) and which had an oxygen contentgreater than that in the other region. It was also confirmed that, inthe region of the hard mask film in Comparative Example 2 excluding thecomposition gradient portion, the contents of the respective constituentelements were Cr: 58 atomic %, O: 17 atomic %, and N: 25 atomic % inaverage. Furthermore, it was confirmed that, in the region of the hardmask film excluding the composition gradient portion, a difference incontent of each constituent element in the thickness direction was 3atomic % or less and there was no substantial composition gradient inthe thickness direction.

In the manner similar to Example 1, the hard mask film formed on anothertransparent substrate 1 in Comparative Example 2 was subjected toanalysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to acquire a result ofdepth direction chemical bonding state analysis of Cr2p narrow spectrum,a result of depth direction chemical bonding state analysis of O1snarrow spectrum, a result of depth direction chemical bonding stateanalysis of N1s narrow spectrum, a result of depth direction chemicalbonding state analysis of C1s narrow spectrum, and a result of depthdirection chemical bonding state analysis of Si2p narrow spectrum.

From the analysis result of Cr2p narrow spectrum, it is understood thatthe hard mask film in Comparative Example 2 has a maximum peak at abinding energy greater than 574 eV in the region excluding thecomposition gradient portion. The above-mentioned result means aso-called chemical shift state where an abundance ratio of chromiumatoms which are not bonded to atoms such as nitrogen and oxygen isconsiderably small. Therefore, resistance against etching based on thechemical reaction is low and side etching is difficult to suppress.

From the analysis result of O1s narrow spectrum, it is understood thatthe hard mask film in Comparative Example 2 has a maximum peak at abinding energy of about 530 eV in the region excluding the compositiongradient portion. The above-mentioned result means that Cr—O bond existsat a predetermined ratio or more.

From the analysis result of N1 s narrow spectrum, it is understood thatthe hard mask film in Comparative Example 2 has a maximum peak at abinding energy of about 397 eV in the region excluding the compositiongradient portion. The above-mentioned result means that Cr—N bond existsin the hard mask film in Comparative Example 2 at a predetermined ratioor more. Therefore, it may be said that side etching easily progresses.

From the analysis result of C1s narrow spectrum, it is understood thatthe hard mask film in Comparative Example 2 has a maximum peak of thebinding energy which is not higher than a detection lower limit in allregions in the thickness direction. The above-mentioned result meansthat atoms bonded to carbon, including Cr—C bond, were not detected inthe hard mask film in Comparative Example 2.

From the analysis result of Si2p narrow spectrum, it is understood thatthe hard mask film in Comparative Example 2 has a maximum peak of thebinding energy which is not higher than a detection lower limit in allregions in the thickness direction. The above-mentioned result meansthat atoms bonded to silicon, including Cr—Si bond, were not detected inthe hard mask film in Comparative Example 2.

Next, using the mask blank in Comparative Example 2, a transfer mask(binary mask) in Comparative Example 2 was manufactured according to themanufacturing process similar to that in Example 1 mentioned above.

In the manufacturing process of the transfer mask in Comparative Example2, for each of the resist pattern 4 a and the hard mask film pattern 3a, the line width was measured by the above-mentioned critical dimensionSEM in the region where the line-and-space pattern was formed.

At each of a plurality of positions in the same region where theline-and-space pattern was formed, an etching bias was calculated whichwas a variation amount between the line width of the resist pattern 4 aand the line width of the hard mask film pattern 3 a and, further, anaverage value of etching bias was calculated. As a result, the averagevalue of etching bias was about 30 nm which was substantially large, ascompared with the case of dry etching on a conventional chromium-basedmaterial film. LWR of the hard mask film pattern 3 a was about 8 nmwhich was a relatively large value.

This shows that, in the mask blank of Comparative Example 2, in casewhere the hard mask film 3 is patterned by the dry etching in thehigh-bias condition using the resist pattern 4 a as a mask and using amixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygen gas, it is difficult tosuppress the side etching amount generated on a pattern side wall of thehard mask film 3. Therefore, it may not be possible to accurately form afine pattern on the hard mask film 3. Therefore, it is difficult toaccurately transfer the fine transfer pattern of the resist pattern 4 ato the hard mask film 3.

Furthermore, by using AIMS193 (manufactured by Carl Zeiss), the transfermask of Comparative Example 2 was subjected to simulation of an exposuretransfer image when exposure transfer was carried out onto a resist filmon a semiconductor device using exposure light having a wavelength of193 nm, in the manner similar to Example 1. When the exposure transferimage obtained by the simulation was verified, transfer defect wasconfirmed. It is presumed that the defect is caused by a factor ofinsufficient pattern accuracy in a final shielding film pattern,resulting from a large side etching amount of the hard mask film patternand large LWR.

While the embodiments and the examples of this disclosure have thus farbeen described, they are merely for illustration purpose and do notlimit the scope of the claims. The techniques described in the claimsencompass modifications and alterations of the specific examplesillustrated in the foregoing.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 transparent substrate    -   2 light shielding film    -   3 hard mask film    -   4 resist film    -   10, 12 mask blank    -   20 transfer mask (binary mask)

The invention claimed is:
 1. A mask blank comprising: a transparentsubstrate; a light shielding film formed on the transparent substrateand made of a material containing one or more elements selected fromsilicon and tantalum; and a hard mask film formed on the light shieldingfilm and made of a material containing chromium, oxygen, and carbon,wherein the hard mask film is a single layer film having a compositiongradient portion formed on a surface of the hard mask film that facesaway from the light shielding film and in a region adjacent to thesurface, and wherein the hard mask film has a maximum peak of N1s narrowspectrum, obtained by analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,which is not higher than a lower detection limit, and wherein a part ofthe hard mask film excluding the composition gradient portion has achromium content of 50 atomic % or more, and wherein the part of thehard mask film excluding the composition gradient portion has a maximumpeak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 574 eV or less. 2.The mask blank according to claim 1, wherein, in the part of the hardmask film excluding the composition gradient portion, a ratio of carboncontent [atomic %] to total content [atomic %] of chromium, carbon, andoxygen is 0.1 or more.
 3. The mask blank according to claim 1, whereinthe composition gradient portion of the hard mask film has a maximumpeak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 576 eV or more. 4.The mask blank according to claim 1, wherein the hard mask film has amaximum peak of Si2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, which is not higher than a lower detectionlimit.
 5. The mask blank according to claim 1, wherein the part of thehard mask film excluding the composition gradient portion has a chromiumcontent of 80 atomic % or less.
 6. The mask blank according to claim 1,wherein the part of the hard mask film excluding the compositiongradient portion has a carbon content of 10 atomic % or more and 20atomic % or less.
 7. The mask blank according to claim 1, wherein thepart of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradient portionhas an oxygen content of 10 atomic % or more and 35 atomic % or less. 8.The mask blank according to claim 1, wherein the part of the hard maskfilm excluding the composition gradient portion has a difference incontent of each constituent element, along a direction that isorthogonal to the surface, that is less than 10 atomic %.
 9. The maskblank according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding film has anoptical density not smaller than 2.8 with respect to exposure lighthaving a wavelength of 193 nm.
 10. The mask blank according to claim 1,wherein the light shielding film has a thickness of 60 nm or less. 11.The mask blank according to claim 1, wherein the hard mask film has athickness of 15 nm or less.
 12. A method for using the mask blankaccording to claim 1 to manufacture a transfer mask, the methodcomprising: performing a first dry etching to form a transfer pattern onthe hard mask film, wherein a mask used for the first dry etching is aresist film having the transfer pattern and wherein a gas used for thefirst dry etching is a mixed gas of a chlorine-based gas and an oxygengas; and performing a second dry etching to form the transfer pattern onthe light shielding film, wherein a mask used for the second dry etchingis the hard mask film provided with the transfer pattern and wherein agas used for the second dry etching is a fluorine-based gas.
 13. Themethod according to claim 12, wherein, in the part of the hard mask filmexcluding the composition gradient portion: a chromium content is 80atomic % or less; a carbon content is 10 atomic % or more and 20 atomic% or less; an oxygen content is 10 atomic % or more and 35 atomic % orless; and a ratio of carbon content [atomic %] to total content [atomic%] of chromium, carbon, and oxygen is 0.1 or more.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 12, wherein, for each element in the group consistingof chromium, carbon, and oxygen, the part of the hard mask filmexcluding the composition gradient portion has a difference in contentof the element, along a direction that is orthogonal to the surface,that is less than 10 atomic %.
 15. The method according to claim 14,wherein the composition gradient portion of the hard mask film has amaximum peak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-rayphotoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 576 eV or more. 16.The method according to claim 12, wherein the light shielding film has athickness of 60 nm or less, and wherein the hard mask film has athickness of 15 nm or less.
 17. A method for manufacturing asemiconductor device, comprising: using the mask blank according toclaim 1 to manufacture a transfer mask, comprising: performing a firstdry etching to form a transfer pattern on the hard mask film, wherein amask used for the first dry etching is a resist film having the transferpattern and wherein a gas used for the first dry etching is a mixed gasof a chlorine-based gas and an oxygen gas; and performing a second dryetching to form the transfer pattern on the light shielding film,wherein a mask used for the second dry etching is the hard mask filmprovided with the transfer pattern and wherein a gas used for the seconddry etching is a fluorine-based gas; and using the transfer mask toexposure-transfer the transfer pattern onto a resist film on asemiconductor substrate.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein,in the part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion: a chromium content is 80 atomic % or less; a carbon content is10 atomic % or more and 20 atomic % or less; an oxygen content is 10atomic % or more and 35 atomic % or less; and a ratio of carbon content[atomic %] to total content [atomic %] of chromium, carbon, and oxygenis 0.1 or more.
 19. The method according to claim 17, wherein, for eachelement in the group consisting of chromium, carbon, and oxygen, thepart of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradient portionhas a difference in content of the element, along a direction that isorthogonal to the surface, that is less than 10 atomic %.
 20. A methodof providing a mask blank, comprising: forming, on a transparentsubstrate, a light shielding film made of a material containing one ormore elements selected from silicon and tantalum; and forming, on thelight shielding film, a hard mask film made of a material containingchromium, oxygen, and carbon, wherein the hard mask film is a singlelayer film having a composition gradient portion formed on a surfacethat faces away from the light shielding film and in a region adjacentto the surface, and wherein the hard mask film has a maximum peak of N1snarrow spectrum, obtained by analysis of X-ray photoelectronspectroscopy, which is not higher than a lower detection limit, andwherein a part of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradientportion has a chromium content of 50 atomic % or more, and wherein thepart of the hard mask film excluding the composition gradient portionhas a maximum peak of Cr2p narrow spectrum, obtained by analysis ofX-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, at a binding energy of 574 eV or less.